Facebook creator and CEO Mark Zuckerberg also expressed solidarity with Muslims in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

“After the Paris attacks and hate this week, I can only imagine the fear Muslims feel that they will be persecuted for the actions of others,” he wrote.

“As a Jew, my parents taught me that we must stand up against attacks on all communities. If you’re a Muslim in this community, as the leader of Facebook I want you to know that you are always welcome here and that we will fight to protect your rights.”

Mr Ali in his statement said there was there was “nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world”.

The former boxer was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984, after quitting the sport. Born by the name of Cassius Clay, he converted to Islam and changed his name in 1964.

His statement comes after President Barack Obama’s televised address to the nation on Sunday night, in which he called on Americans to turn away from discrimination.

Mr Trump reacted to Mr Obama’s statement saying: “Obama said in his speech that Muslims are our sports heroes. What sport is he talking about, and who?”

The presidential candidate has met Mr Ali several times, and even received an award named after the former heavyweight champion in 2007.

Mr Trump’s comments about Muslims came after the deadly shootings in San Bernardino, California. He called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on”.

A Muslim couple, believed to have been radicalised, killed 14 people at a health centre and left scores injured.

Mr Trump is the current frontrunner among the Republicans running for president, six weeks before the primary contests begin for each party to pick their nominee.

He also alluded to running as an independent in a tweet linking to a USA Today poll which found 68% of his supporters would vote for him if he left the Republican party.